Our 2013 Take Back the Tech! campaign focused on drawing the lines between the public and the private. Privacy is a fundamental human right and a critical part of preventing and responding to violence against women, but is increasingly eroded and under threat.
During the campaign, we looked at the issue of state surveillance and highlighted the recently passed UN resolution on "The right to privacy in the digital age." Today, 11 February 2014, Take Back the Tech! supports The Day We Fight Back to demand for an end to mass surveillance. Join us!
What is the Day We Fight Back?
February 11th, 2014 is the Day We Fight Back against mass surveillance. It's a virtual call to arms, this global campaign is intended to pressure policymakers around the world to uphold human rights and end mass surveillance.
Last year the UN General Assembly passed a landmark resolution on the right to privacy in the digital age, which called on States to take measures to put an end to violations of the right to privacy, and ensure that relevant policies, practices and legislation regarding surveillance of communications, their interception and collection of personal data, complies with their obligations under international human rights law.
Today a broad coalition of advocates, human rights defenders, civil society, technical and activist groups, online platforms and internet users are demanding that this UNGA resolution be upheld by States – that policies, practices and legislation around the world be urgently reviewed and brought in line with international human rights law. In the Phillippines, APC member Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA) is co-organising a day of mass action against the country’s draconian Cybercrime Prevention Act, including a protest at the Supreme Court, a viral “eye selfie” campaign, and a “sticker bombing”. Cryptoparties are also being held in cities from Bogota to Belgrade.
There is a growing body of tools to help bring policies and practices in line with human rights standards, including the 13 International Principles on the Application of Human Rights to Communications Surveillance.
There are also tools that activists and human rights defenders are using to protect themselves from mass surveillance, such as APC’s Digital First Aid Kit, TakeBackTheTech’s Be Safe guide and the security-in-a-box toolkit. These tools and safe practices online are essential not only to protect the privacy and freedom of expression of human rights defenders and communities advocacting for change, but all for all internet users. Mass surveillance thrives on connections and networks, triangulations of data. It threatens our communities online and offline, targetting those already marginalised, those who call for change. It is our responsibility to protect our communities from unlawful spying, and to be part of a collective voice calling for national action to end to mass surveillance.
Today is not the first day that this global protest movement has fought back against surveillance, and it will not be the last. But today is a day when politicians, policymakers, and surveillance agents feel our eyes staring back at them, demanding our fundamental rights to privacy and freedom of expression.
Take Action
- Add your name to the global action.
- Visit TheDayWeFightBack.org and find out more about the global campaign and how to add a banner to your site.
- Share the action on your social media platforms. #stopspying #takebackthetech.
- Develop memes, tools, websites, and whatever else you can to encourage others to participate.
- Be creative -- plan your own action. Go to the streets. Take videos. Share your action!
Fight Back against mass surveillance! Demand privacy! Take Back the Tech!
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